Automobile license plate lock



May 21 1940- w. F'. A. BUEHNER 2,201,519'

AUTOMOBILE LICENSE PLATE LOCK Filed Feb. 18, 1939 Patented May 21, 1940I A'AUTOMOBILE uoENsE'PLATE LOOK William F. A. Buchner, New York, N. Y.Application February 18,1939, serial No. 257,260

rsemillas. (c1. L10- 125) This invention relates to automobile licenseplate locks, and particularly to a holder and lock device intendedandadapted for application to and use with the ordinary license 'platebracket of an automobile and an ordinary or usual 'form and type oflicense plate. v e l An object of this'invention is to provide a licenseplate holder` and lock that can be -readily and conveniently used withordinary licenseV 1Jy plates and the license plate brackets ofautomobiles, to hold and lock the license plate or tag upon the bracketin such manner as to prevent unauthorized interchangement of licenseplates from one machine to anothen'and to thus insure J the use anddisplayof a license plate or tag only upon the particular automobile orvehicle to Which the license extends. l

A further object is to so construct-the parts that the holder and lockstructure present parts A overlying'or immediately adjacent to thelicense.

` plate or tag, thereby permitting display upon this device of a-stateseal, information as to the state of issue or the date, or any othermatter that it may be desired to have visible in substantially lthe samefield of View with the license tag or plate. i 'u Another purpose of myinvention is to provide means of this character, capable of use with' aVAlicense plate or tag mounted upon the front or rear of an automobile,which device will lock the tag in place against accidental or casualdisplacement or loss, and will at the same time positively retain theplate against being removed, except by irreplaceable breaking ordefacing of the lock means, to thus immediately give visible evidence`or tampering with or any attempted improper use of the plate or tag,should the license plate locking and holder device be reapplied.

Still another purpose is to so construct thev parts that the licenseplate lock or holder can be cheaply manufactured, and can be sold orpassed out along with the license plate as issued, and can then beimmediately applied by the individual user, without the necessity orrequirement for ,the use of special sealing or other tools or equipment.

With the above and other objects and purposes in view, some of whichwill be apparent to those skilled in the art, and others of which-areinilherent in the construction and use of the parts,

my invention includes certain novel features of construction andcombinations and arrangements of parts, which will befhereinafter setforth in connection with the drawing and then p ointed` ,out in theclaims,

In the drawing: l

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation illustrating I i an automobilelicense tag as secured upon the mounting bracket of an automobile, andwith my present invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of my license plate lock, with vtheparts illustrated in the unlocked position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in front elevation of a license plate andmounting bracket having,

my invention applied thereto, and lwith theforward side of the lock casesectionally removed to better `illustrate the vconstruction and positionof the parts.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substan.

tially on lined-4- of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken horizontally substantially online 5--5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a reversed elevational'view somewhat,v I

similar to Fig. 2 showing the parts as they appear when viewed from theback.

Fig. 7 is a perspective View to better Ashow the locking bolt. l

Fig.'8 is a view in perspective illustrating the locking nut. l

As shown in Figure 1, the license plate or tag l Vis ofA ordinary orusual construction,v and is provided with elongated openingsv 2 and 3,ad-` n jacent to its upper and lower edges, to receive fastenings bywhich the plate or tag is held upon the mounting bracket of anautomobile.r In the present disclosure I have illustrated the bracket las a rear bracket, with the usual tail light 5 indicated at B, but itwill of course be understood that the present showing is only intendedas illustrative, and that my invention is applicable to and can be usedfor locking license plates or tags upon the forward or rear mountingbrackets of automobiles; and, with equal facility and elec-V tiveness,for locking a tag whether fitted upon the mounting bracket to dependtherefrom, or to eX- tend upwardly above the bracket.

As shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5, the mounting bracket 4 has elongatedopenings 6 therein toA receive fastenings by which the plate is mountedin place, and at `one end the usual screw or bolt 1 'l can be providedand can be tted to secure the one end of the tag upon the bracket. Alocking and clamp bolt 8 has the threaded shank 9 thereof made of a sizeto t readily through the opening 6 ofthe bracket and one of the slottedopenings, 2 or 3,` or the plate I, and

adjacent to its head I0, this bolt is provided with a rib-like extensionIl, which will fit within'the openings Gand 2, to thus holdthe boltVlagainst being revolved. A locking nut I2 is provided with a screwthreaded opening I3 to receive the screw threaded shank 9 of themounting and locking bolt 8, and this locking nut has extension ends I4thereof provided with laterally and oppositely extending lockingshoulders I5 and I6. On one or both of its faces, the locking nut isprovided with shoulder I1, surrounding the screw threaded opening I3.While the outer contour of the locking nut I2 is somewhat varied fromordinary or standard form, the shape is nevertheless such that the nutcan be readily grasped with a wrench or a pair of pliers to turn the nutonto the threaded shank 9 and tighten the nut thereon.

A supporting and base member I8, which is of somewhat elongated form,has the material thereof cut or slitted and then struck out rearwardly,to provide an opening I9 of sufficient size to receive the shoulderportion II of locking screw 8, and the struck out portions or tongues 20and 2I extend rearwardly so that Vthey will project through theregistering slotted openings 2 and 6 of the license plate I and mountingbracket 4. This base member I has a forwardly extending shoulder flange22 at one side thereof adjacent the opening I9, and adjacent to itsopposite end is provided with a bearing opening 23. A locking casemember, generally indicated at 24, and which has a contour somewhatapprox'- imating that ofthe base member I8, is provided with an opening25 registering with the opening 23, and an eyelet 28, or other suitablebearing member, is'tted through these openings to swingably mount thelocking case member 24 on the base member I 8. The locking case member24 has a locking case 21 stamped up or otherwise formed at the swingingend thereof, this locking case 21 being open on one side and being ofsufficient size to receive and enclose the locking nut I4. The lockingcase 21 is provided with spring pawl-like portions 28 and 29 converginginwardly from the open side or edge thereof, and a retaining flange 3i!is also provided `opposite this open side or edge in position to lieclosely7 adjacent to the base or supporting member I8.

In the use of my improved license plate holder and lock, the supportingbase member I8 will be fitted against the front face of the license tagI, with the lug portions 2li and 2i extending through the alignedopenings 2 and 6 of the license plate and the mounting bracket 4. Thelocking bolt 8 is then fitted from the rear side forwardly through theopenings 6 and 2, so that the head thereof bears against the back sideof the bracket 4 and rib portion II is received in the openings 6, 2 andI9. With the locking case member 24 swung back, substantially as shownin Figs. 2 and 6, the locking nut I2 is turned onto the threaded shankend 9 of the locking bolt, and the shoulder I1 thereof bears and clampsand locks against the outer side of the mounting or supporting base I8,after the manner shown in Fig. 2. The locking case member 24 is thenswung downwardly and inwardly, substantially as indicated` by the arrowin Fig. 2, and the locking nut I2 is received through the opening in theside or edge of the locking case 21, pressure voi the locking nut uponthe pawlelike portions 28 and 29 moving these members outwardly orspreading them so that they permit passage of the locking nut I2 intothe case 21. As this locking case 21 is brought to the position where itcontacts with the guard shoulder or flange 22, the ends of the pawl-likeportions 23 and 29 pass beyond the outstanding shoulders I5 or I6, andspring back into place to engage against these shoulders and thuspositively hold and lock the member 24 against being swung in oppositedirection. At the same time, the flange portion 30 engages behind thelocking nut I2 in the space provided by the extension of the shoulderI1, and in this way the locking case member 24, and specifically thelocking case portion 21, will be held against outward movement to clearor expose the locking nut I2.

If desired, the locking case 21, or other portions of the member 24, canhave state and date or other distinguishing data stamped or printed orotherwise applied or displayed thereon. Further, the pivoting member 26can have a state seal or other matter impressed or printed or otherwisedisplayed thereon, to thus ocially certify or authenticate the holdingand locking device as being from the proper source.

With the device constructed and assembled and used in the manner setforth, the extension lugs 20 and 2I hold the supporting member` I8against being swung or rotated in manner calculated to loosen thelocking nut I2, and the rib-like portion II positively precludesrotation of the locking screw 8. When the locking case member 24 isswung to the locking position, the opening through which the locking nutI2 enters is closed by the extending shoulder or flange 22, the pawllikeportions 28 and 29 engage behind the shoulders of the locking nut I2 toretain the locking case against being swung reversely to the openposition, and the engagement of flange 30 between the extending part ofnut I2 and the supporting member I8 prevents forward or rear swinging ormovement or distortion of the parts to release the same. Thus, when myimproved license plate holder and lock is applied, it cannot be removedor casually loosened, and the parts cannot be released except by forceor operations that will distort or destroy portions of the structure tosuch an extent that such removal will be readily detected. For thisreason, the holder' and lock structure is Well adapted for use not onlyin preventing loss or theft of a license plate, but also for preventingunauthorized removal and substitution of the plate upon anotherautomobile, without requiring or necessitating suflicient damage to ordestruction of the parts to be readily and clearly apparent.

While I have herein shown and described only certain specificembodiments of my invention and have suggested only certain possiblemodifications, it will be appreciated and apparent that many changes andvariations can be made in the form and in the manner of construction andin the arrangement and assembly and association of the parts, withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

l. An automobile license plate lock for use with a license plate havingan elongated fastening receiving opening and a mounting bracket for thelicense plate provided with a registering opening comprising asupporting member having portions receivable through the registeringopenings to retain said member against swinging movement and providedwith an opening adapted to register with the opening of the licenseplate, a locking bolt receivable through the openings of said mountingbracket and plate and member and having a rib portion within the openingof the mounting bracket adapted to hold the bolt against rotation, alocking nut adapted to be turned onto said locking bolt against thesupporting member, and a locking case swingably carried by saidsupporting member provided with an opening to receive the locking nutand having portions engageable vwith the locking nut when said lockingcase is swung to overlie the supporting member whereby the locking nutis held and guarded against removal. Y

2. Alicense plate lock for use with a license plate having an elongatedfastening receiving opening and a mounting bracket for the license plateprovided with a registering opening comprising a supporting memberhaving an opening therethrough and provided with extending portionsreceivable in the openings of the bracket and plate to hold saidsupporting member against swinging movement and to align the openingthereof with the bracket and plate openings, a locking bolt adapted tobe fitted through the aligned openings of the bracket and plate andmember and having an extending portion receivable in the opening of thebracket for holding A the bolt against rotation, a locking nut adaptedto be turned onto said locking bolt against the supporting member, alocking case member swingably mounted on said supporting member providedwith a looking case having an opening adapted to receive the locking nutwhen the locking case member is swung to overlie the supporting member,and meansv within the locking case adapted to engage with the lockingnut and retain said looking case against return swinging movementwhereby the locking nut is held and guarded against removal.

3. A license plate lock for use with a license plate having an elongatedfastening receiving opening and a mounting bracket for the license plateprovided with a registering opening comprising a supporting memberhaving an opening therethrough and provided with extending por-- tionsreceivable in ther openings 0i' the bracket and plate to hold saidsupporting member against swinging movement and toI alignthe openingthereof with the bracket and plate openings, a

-locking bolt adapted toA be iitted through the ,aligned openings of thebracket and plate and member and having an extending portion receivablein the opening of the bracket for holding the bolt against rotation, alocking nut adapted to be turned onto said locking bolt against thesupporting member, a locking case member swingably mounted on saidsupporting member provided with a locking case havingy an opening forreceiving the lock nut when the locking case member is swung to overliethe supporting member, means within the locking case for engaging withthe locking nut and retaining said locking case against return swingingmovement whereby the locking nut is held and guarded against removal,said locking nutbeing provided with a recess on the side adjacent to thesupporting member, and means carried by' the locking case memberengageable in said recess in the locking position to hold the lockingcase against outward swinging movement to expose the locking nut.

4. Alicense platelockforusewith a licenseplate having an elongatedfastening receiving opening and a mounting bracket for the license plateprovided with a registering opening comprising a supporting memberhaving an opening therethrough and provided With extending portionsreceivable in the openings of the bracket' and plate to hold saidsupporting member against swinging movement and to align the openingthereof with the bracket and plate openings, a locking bolt adapted to'be fitted through the yaligned openings of the bracket and plate andmember and having anr extending portion receivab-le in the opening ofthe bracket for holding the bolt against rotation, a locking nut adaptedtobe turned onto said locking bolt against the supporting member, alocking oase member swingably mountedon said supporting member providedwith a locking case having an opening adapted to receive the locking nutwhen the locking case member is swung to overlie the supporting member,means within the locking case adapted to engage with the locking nut andretain said locking case against return swinging movement whereby thelocking nut is held and guarded against removal, and a iiange extensionon said supporting member vpositioned tol close the opening of theylocking caseV when in locking position.

5. A license plate lock for use with a license plate having an elongatedfastening receiving opening and a mounting bracket for the license plateprovided with a registering opening oomprising an elongated supportingmember having an opening adjacent to one end 'thereof and provided withrearwardly projecting extensions receivable in the openings of thelicense plate and bracket whereby the opening of the supporting memberris aligned therewith and the body of the supporting member is disposedin predetermined position with lrespect to the license plate, a lockingbolt adapted to be iitted through the aligned openings of the bracketand plate and memiber and having an extension receivable in the openingof the bracket 'for holding said bolt against rotation, a locking nutadapted to be turned onto the end of the locking bolt and having ashoulder adjacent to the supporting member whereby the body of thelocking nut is spaced therefrom, a lockingv case carrying memberVswingably mounted on the supporting member at a point spaced from thelocation of the locking nut, a locking case car.-

ried by said swingable member having an opening capable of receiving thelocking nut when the swingable member Ais moved to a position overlyingthe supporting member, said locking nut being provided with lockingshoulder portions, pawl-like portions within the locking case engageablewith said shoulders when said locking nut is within the opening of thelocking case to hold the locking case in nut encasingrelation, anextending flange on said supporting menrber for closing the opening ofthe locking case, and a ange on the swinging member for engaging behindthe body of the locking nut in the recess provided by the shoulderthereon whereby the locking case is held against being swung ordisplaced outwardly.

WIILIAMF. A. BUEHNER.

